Operations by Business Segment and Geographic Area Operations by Business Segment and Geographic Areas - Schedule of Assets (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	$ 3,511,701	$ 3,128,500
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	1,305,822	1,189,099
Goodwill	331,474	344,018
Oil And Gas [Member]
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	2,849,404	2,824,701
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	1,285,467	1,167,475
Goodwill	309,632	323,604
ROVs [Member]
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	1,148,680	1,117,920
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	693,240	681,027
Goodwill	25,458	26,761
Subsea Products [Member]
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	904,935	942,607
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	336,125	289,015
Goodwill	99,656	113,066
Subsea Projects [Member]
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	448,378	382,782
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	214,478	163,210
Asset Integrity [Member]
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	347,411	381,392
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	41,624	34,223
Goodwill	164,806	183,777
Advanced Technologies [Member]
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	86,203	67,328
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	8,780	12,332
Goodwill	21,842	20,414
Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	576,094	236,471
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	$ 11,575	$ 9,292